I suppose in a season where there is such clarity at the top – the Pats are the league's best and no one else is even close right now – that it makes sense that the rest of the league would be so utterly confusing:

What McNabb controversy? In a classic "STFU" performance and Sunday's top NFL story, McNabb led the Eagles to more than a half-century's worth of points, including 4 TDs, 381 yards and 0 INTs. Given the circumstances, it just might have been the best performance of McNabb's career.

The Packers are 3-0...: And if this is Brett Favre's swan song, it's already a hell of a ride. (And I say that as a constant naysayer for the past few seasons.) Next week: All-time career TD record.

...And the Chargers are 1-2: Wow, this is disappointing. Is it Norv Turner's fault? All I know is that I'm pretty sure that I could be the head coach of this much talent and come up with more inspired performances. I know their early schedule has been tough, but still...

Sunday Night Beat-Down: Cowboys throttle Bears in Chicago. First, Dallas: They're so legit, and I take back my stupid notion they wouldn't win the NFC East, let alone make the playoffs. They have to be considered the class of the NFC right now. (Wow: Is Tony Romo the best QB in the NFC?) Next, Chicago: Wow, last year's NFC title game feels like a lifetime ago. I just can't see how Rex Grossman can continue to be the starting QB, and Cedric Benson stinks (made worse by Thomas Jones running for 110 yards... for the Jets).

The hapless Chiefs beat the Vikings: And that was basically without any production from Larry Johnson, who has been a complete bust this season. Karmic payback from his holdout? Meanwhile, why was Adrian Peterson on the sidelines for the Vikings' final chance to tie or win the game? (He can't block? So what? Give him the freaking ball!)

The Jags beat the Broncos in Denver: I'm a Jags fan, and even I checked "Broncos" in my Pick 'Em leagues late last week about this one. Denver simply isn't supposed to lose games like this one against a team like this one at home. No chance for Elam heroics this week.

Very simple question: How do the Redskins not score from "First and Goal on the 1?"

Fantasy: Earnest Graham, "Add" superstar. I'm quite sure no one saw this coming. Nor did you probably expect Kevin Curtis to be fantasy's leading WR this weekend. (Injuries: How bad is Calvin Johnson's bruised lower back? How bad is Hines Ward's "bone bruise" in his leg?)

MNF Tonight: Saints/Titans. It doesn't lack for "young" star power, featuring Vince Young and Reggie Bush. Could be a showcase game for either/both. I'm betting, like the 2006 Rose Bowl before it, VY comes up bigger in tonight's game.

CFB Weekend Wrap: Michigan's back... Notre Dame still stinks... Heisman: Tim Tebow is my new front-runner... Win of the Week: Georgia at Alabama... Loss of the Week: Louisville at home versus Syracuse... No argument here: Oklahoma is better than Florida.

MLB Playoff Races: AL. The foursome is all but a done deal: Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees. All that's left to be decided is who has the best record in the league and home-field advantages.

The Angels clinched the AL West on Sunday, their third AL-W title in the last four years. It's going to get even more interesting when they import Alex Rodriguez this winter.

UPDATE: Will Leitch has a must-read story about A-Rod for New York magazine, which suggests not only that the Cubs have the inside track, but that there's a chance his deal could include the chance to buy an ownership stake, which would be HUGE. Here's the link.

The Indians clinched the AL Central on Sunday, too, their first division title since 2001 and one that feels a long time coming, given how close they've come the last few seasons. I think Cleveland just might be my pick to win the ALCS.

MLB Playoff Races: NL. From most fans' perspective (and certainly the league's), the only thing that matters is that the Cubs make the playoffs and – hopefully – advance to the World Series. They won't, of course. Even with only a half-dozen or so games to play, the division races are tight enough to pay attention, and the Wild Card remains up in the air -- and hopefully down to the wire.

(You know who's intriguing? Colorado, now just 1.5 GB the Wild Card lead. I've seen them a few times in person this season, and they are the Surprise of the Year in MLB. If momentum factored into Wild Card worthiness, the Rockies would be in right now.)

Bonds Watch: Where will Bonds play next year? Any contender – particularly in the AL, where he can DH -- would be insane not to sign him at what will likely be a significant discount. I could see the A's getting him, but – speaking of the Angels – what if LAA grabbed him to bat behind A-Rod?

Online Media Inside Baseball: Jamie Mottram joins Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo has made some aggressive hires in the past 12-18 months, but none are as big or important as this one, announced Friday, securing the talents of one of the smartest (not to mention one of the nicest and most-admired) people in the sports-blog universe. For gosh sakes, he was the architect of the Fanhouse, arguably the most successful mainstream online-sports editorial concept of all time. (And second-cleverest... cough!) Jamie will be running Yahoo Sports' blogs and community efforts, and if his impact on things at AOL is any indication, Yahoo Sports will add to its already sizeable momentum. Congrats to "Mr. Irrelevant," and kudos to Yahoo.

Norv Turner sucks as a coach, lets see the Patriots last week come out in 4 and 5 WR packages to start the Game does he send out extra DB's to help in coverage, nope keeps his base defense in, what happens the Patriots rip done the field and score a TD in just over 2 minutes.

I also think the decision to have LT not play in the preseason was a mistake and it is showing by his results. There is no flow to there offense it is almost like they are still trying to get it all together.

Peter King is a fraud, how can you have 2 1-2 teams ranked in you top 10. San Diego and Chicago are better teams then they have played so far this season but right now you can not consider either team one of the best 10 in the league.

Somebody stop Grossman from starting next week too. That guy is awful.

Redskins choked on what should have been an easy win. Their play selection from 1st and goal with 91 seconds left was awful. They went 3 TE, 2 RB for 3 straight plays, and they were in too much of a hurry. 91 seconds is enough time to run the ball 3 times, but they acted like there was always 5 seconds left. Jason Campbell is very good. But he needs to learn to manage a game a bit better to be great.

Great Karmic payback for the Raiders -- winning one this week the way they lost last week.

Great way to close out RFK Stadium yesterday for the Nationals. A good win, a full house, and win number 69 beats the Over/Under. A 2-4 road trip matches last year's 71 wins (without the excitement of Soriano's 40/40). With their final 13 games against the Mets and Phillies, the Nationals will decide the NL East. (2-1 v Mets, 1-3 v Phillies so far, 3 left with each).

If the Cubs do not have "real" ownership right now, who would Boras be negotiating with?

I don't think it is legal for Boras to negotiate with anyone at this point. ARod is under contract right now, and the tampering rules would prohibit an agent from negotiating deals prior to the player being a free agent. I don't really see any way that deal has any possibility of truth.

And, for ARod, he pretty much has to stay in NY this year if they don't win a World Series. So much of his life is based on image, and if he left now -- his image would be that of ruthless mercenary who doesn't care about winning. With the talent the Yankees have coming up, the players they already have under contract for next year, and their deep pockets for free agency -- how could ARod not claim being in NY is his best chance at a WS title (except maybe LA Angels). If he wants a legacy, he needs a WS Ring, not more millions and a tarnished reputation for bailing on a $25M/ season contract.

Before everyone starts slurping McNabb, please note that hanging 50 on the Lions is like hanging 50 on Louisville. It's really not an accomplishment. The Lions have the worst secondary in the league hands down, and it's not even close. Teams now have the template to rail them: max protect, let your scrub WRs get open, bomb for TD, rinse, repeat.

I am doubly screwed by that call in the Brewers/Braves game. I literally threw an object through one of my window screens. I don't know if they would catch the Cubs anyway, but we don't need to just hand it to them.

Griese! Griese! Griese! The Sex Dragon is just awful. Lovie needs to wake up and put him on the bench. Think this might be the reason he is still under his rookie contract and has not been signed for next year and beyond?

I don't know about MLB wanting the Cubs in the playoffs considering Allan Selig used to own the Brewers and his daughter is now the owner. I figured it would be MLB siding with the Brew Crew if they were choosing sides.

That being said, watching the highlights last night - the throw to second and the tag at first........wow, both calls were incorrect and definitely had an outcome on the game.

And a final thank you to UF for not covering the spread against Miss.!!! Nice jean shorts Tebow!

I actually have graham on my fantasy team as a joke. I always keep a gator or two on my roster and he is going to be getting a lot of short yardage carries. Word out of tampa is that Chucky is actually happy with how the offense is performing. Ronde claims that this is the most aggressive defense he has played on. Barrett Ruud is going to be the next Derrick Brooks. He got a pic yesterday and his brother got one on saturday that he returned for a td. I am eating my words as the Bucs might be able to make the playoffs if their form continues in the weak ass NFC South.

FUCK LJ. His is killing me in fantasy. Can't drop him and no one will trade for him. Someone needs to take him behind the barn and shoot him.

I was in a discussion with friends from atlanta and we were trying to figure out if any rotation in baseball has ever been better than Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux. Glavine 300 wins and counting, Maddux might eventually break 375 wins and 3500 k's, and smoltz has 200 wins, 150 saves (in 3 yrs basically) and is 30 shy of 3000 K. Can any team in the history of baseball say they had a better trio ? I really can't think of a better starting rotation.

If florida had played kentucky like we historically did the week after UT we would have been killed. The UF secondary blows but then again they are all really young and it was their first game in a hostile environment. We always suck in the state of MS. Tebow is the goods, but like every other florida qb he will blow if he gets to the NFL. When will people in the NFL learn. Gator players on offense mostly suck when they get to the NFL.

I second the Aaron Hill comment. Only a bad strike-three call to end the 14th probably saved the Jays in the one game they DID win (one more, today at 1 pm)

Rexcrement. Pure and simple.

Pats look scary good, but so do Pittsburgh and the Cowboys. They all at least "look" better than the Colts so far, but straight up on the field I'd be inclined to pick Indy still.

Thanks Norv, I may just have to trade LT if you're not going to get anything noteworthy out of him.

The Falcons...or Louisville...not sure WHERE Petrino could do more help, at this point. Cycledan must be pretty psyched, though. As for UConn, maybe Dan got confused. Beating Duke, Temple and Pitt isn't a bad run for Coach Calhoun's charges, no? Hmmmm....

Something I was thinking about over the weekend regarding Michigan (and making huge assumptions): what do you do with them if they show they can beat anyone as long as their opponent don't have a spread offense? How bad do you penalize them for having an Achilles' heel that reared its head in their first two games but may not for the rest of the season?

Thanks Brian. It has been a long time since there has been a ray of hope for Syracuse football. I am not getting ahead of myself here. One decent game against a terrible defense doesn't turn things around - but at least there is some hope.

It seems nobody cares about homefield in the AL as much as setting rotations and resting players - and I agree.

Mets and Cubs are going to scratch it out until the last game or two. Is there any NL team as good as one of the top 4 AL teams? Not on paper but of course that doesn't mean much come October.

Right, MLB set the schedule easy for the Cubs too because they just knew the playoff team for the NL Central would come down to the last seven games of the season.

Also, MLB has paid off the umpires so the Cubs could get into the playoffs because Allan wants the Cubs in a WS. Forget the fact he is friends with the south side ownership.

Never mind that the Cubs came from 8 1/2 back earlier this season. But that doesn't matter and neither does this: the bullpen is actually pitching well (Dumpster excluded); Aramis is hitting very, very well reminiscent of 2003; the call ups from mid-year and the current bench players are outstanding as of late; and Soriano is just playing like a mad man.

Yeah, it's all a conspiracy theory by MLB to get the Cubs into the playoffs.

You won't see me in week 9... I'm a fan of the (admittedly horrible) Dolphins. I just think it's too early to be declaring the Pats the best in the league when there are other teams undefeated and the Pats haven't played anyone impressive so far.

The Chargers are a good team but I think the Pats exposed the weakness of the defense and the offense is still trying to figure out what to do since they did not play together in preseason. The dumbest thing turner did was not playing LdT in the preseason, he should of had him play in at least one game to get some flow in the offense. Look at all the top backs who did not play alot in the preseason and how bad there production has been.

The Cubs do have an easy schedule coming down the stretch, but I don't think the schedule maker thought in advance "gee, I know the Cubs nearly lost 100 games last year, but I see a 30 game improvement -- let's give them an easy final 6 so they can coast into the playoffs!"

Teams that are getting screwed are the NL teams who are completely out of the race but can't play their September call-ups because they are playing teams who are still in it. The Nationals cannot play their young guys, 'cause every game matters to the Phillies and Mets. If the standings played out now like the pre-season predictions, the crappy teams would all be playing eachother and using all call-ups, while the predicted top tier teams (Cards, Astros, Brewers, etc.) would be playing games that mattered.

Cleveland is a very good pick to win the ALCS - ever since the Hall of Fame put its traveling exhibit "Baseball As America" on display, each MLB host city has seen a World Series participant the same year it's been shown:

Brooklyn your theory is wrong as the Florida International Museum is in St Pete about five or six blocks from the Trop. The Marlins play about five hours away between Lauderdale and Miami. I wish the Devil Rays had made it to the WS that year. The soulside would get set on fire.

If the Cubs' schedule is easy now, then that means it wasn't as easy as the Brewers' has been all along. I mean, aside from the interleague games, the schedules are pretty damn similar. So if the Cubs are benefiting from having played 6 against the White Sox, now there's an argument.

If SD gets itself right the next 3 weeks, will the Patriots' dismantling of them look more impressive then? If SD isn't as good, then was 24 points not enough of a win to convince you they're pretty good this year? How many should they have won by?

When there are hundreds of thousands of doses found in a single bust, you know there are a lot of people using out there. Then again, you have to be pretty brave to illegally buy Chinese manufactured steroids online and risk putting them into your body.

I can't believe there was an arguement over the even slight possibility that the Pats aren't the best team in the NFL.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Moss is abut to be triple-teamed leading to the emergence of Stallworth and the true 3-headed monster that was intended AND the fact that Seymour and Harrison are not back yet.

They are going to get better on O and D. I really wish I could say the same for the Skins.

I think that there are already the beginnings of arguements that this Pats team is the best team ever. They are certainly constructed as such. If they follow through with an SB W is what counts though.

You know I have to like Emmitt as he is probably the greatest gator to ever play in the NFL but damn if he isn't dumber than a box of rocks. He went to UF in the days of Galen Hall and Charley Pell when all you had to do was sign for the gators and then get paid handsomely to play ball and not go to class. I think football players should be treated like regular students. Who cares if they miss class as long as the grades are there. Hell I wrote papers for people all they way through grad school. I skipped class all the time and kept a 4.0 so why can't a football player. I kinda miss the days of rampant cheating in college ball and teams that let you run wild. Anyone ever see that movie Johnny B Good with Anthony Michael Hall and Robert Downey Jr. I think that movie was made about UF, SMU etc in the 80's. Hell I don't even think Mad Max ever enrolled in the school yet still kicked ass on the basketball team which is why all his records are no longer in the books.

I want the rays to get Bonds as their DH. With the way the rules are about hitting the support rings at the Trop , all those moonshots that bonds hits as well as a short right field wall would easily allow him to hit 40+ dingers. Of course Bonds probably would want more money than the entire team's current payroll is. Still if we are going to get saddled with uniforms that look like cumstains the owners could spend some money on the team. Maybe on Bonds maybe on some middle relief. Relief is what we need though not another hitter. Thats the only problem with getting Bonds.

UMass over BC?!?!?! Really?!?!?! Apparently, I gave you too much credit for placing BC where they belong last week. They're better than Michigan, they played under par and still beat Army by 20, the fact they played under par has pissed off their head coach, and lightning does not strike twice in the same season. But then again, you picked Tulsa over Oklahoma last week, so stupidity is what stupidity does.

Crybaby Brewer fans? The umps blew 2 calls that directly altered the game. Cub players were whining about the Astros choices of starting pitchers. How quickly we forget. And I don't even mention that Cubbie fans continue to moan about everything from Bartman to goats to Dusty Baker. $300 million doesn't buy what it used to I guess.

It makes it all the more sweet when the Cubs bow out of the playoffs once again.

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You're kidding right? One thing is mistakes by umps and happens all the time and no matter what crazy fans say isn't intentional. The other is something that is intentional and how often do teams start a bunch of rookies against a team in contension?

As someone who has cooked for a living for years I feel the difference between fast food and not fast food would be the use of premade food items. Crap like Mozz sticks and broccoli bites or junk like presliced meats or chicken tenders are all fast food. Sure you can get it at Bennigan's or say Hardee's and theonly difference is the wait that you have for your food. It is still crap. I think that if you don't make it yourself then it is fast food. I know a couple hundred chefs that would back me up on that one.

"The colts are struggling with Tenn and Hou. Both teams fell short on game ending drives that could've easily had the "CHAMPS" at 1-2."

Don't make me laugh.. did you even watch the past 2 Colts games? The Colts D gave up a few 7-10 yard plays at the end before getting the takeaway to end the game. The only complaint I would make with that game was Peyton throwing incompletions after the 2min warning instead of draining the clock with J. Adai runs. That is the ONLY reason that game was remotely interesting in the final few seconds. But with that said, there was very little worry of the Titans truly finishing that drive off. And the Texans yesterday.. yeah, that last drive I believe went backwards before the clock mercifully ended it. Do you really think Houston was going to drive 80+ yards in 30 seconds with no timeouts?

How about them Boilermakers getting close to cracking the top 25. I think they did hit 25 on the ESPN poll, but were just outside on the AP. Might just be a darkhorse in the Big 10 this year.

Purdue as a dark horse? what about MSU which is already voted in at 23 the USA Today poll. Playing much more disciplined ball under coach Dantonio. Already 7 more sacks than all of last year through only 4 games. Much more balance on offense. That could be your dark horse

The Astros were starting rookies because Oswalt was with his wife who was giving birth and Woody Williams is a gas can (and I believe he was hurting too). Nobody mentions the Astros were putting their best possible team on the field, despite the rookie status of the pitchers involved. Or that the Brewers have had to pitch 2 rookies for a good chunk of the year as well. And umps don't blow calls that badly very often, let alone twice in the same game.

And obviously I prefer the Brewers in the playoffs instead of the Cubs, but it will still be sweet to see them lose. You are actually proud of a team with a $300 million payroll barely winning the worst division in baseball? I mean, it is one thing for me as a Brewers fan to be proud of that, as we haven't had a winning record in 15 years or made the post season in 25, but with $300 million, shouldn't you expect to make it?

The Cubs do not have a $300M payroll either. The Cubs spent $300M this offseason, but that's spread out over the next 7+ years with long-term contracts for Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, and Carlos Zambrano and medium length deals to Mark DeRosa and some bullpen pitchers.

The Cubs came back from down 8 1/2 games and played a great 2nd half of baseball. They first had some housecleaning to do, and had to get used to playing together. The Yankees go on a great 2nd half run and are heroes, the Cubs do it and are cry babies?

The Cubs might have the 6th best record, or whatever, but right now they are playing the best baseball in the NL. Their starting pitchers are throwing well (Zambrano has won 3 of 4, and Lilly is solid), their bullpen has picked it up, and their power hitters are finally hitting for power. Who would have thought Derrek Lee would play a full season and only have 20 HR? Or Soriano barely breaking 30? But now, Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez are all starting to rake at just the right time!

The Yankees did their thing without whining about who the Red Sox played against. So yeah. And they aren't heroes, but the story is if the Yankees don' make the playoffs, not if they do. There is no reason why teams with that kind of payroll shouldn't be in the playoffs.

I never said the Cubs didn't deserve to be there--they still had to win when the Brewers were losing--But with that payroll in this division, we shouldn't even be talking about it.

And really, the more I think about it, the Cubs match up well with every other National League playoff team. It may turn out like last year, with a team from the mediocre Central lasting longer than expected.

I hope not, but if I think that way for the Brewers, then why not for the team that finishes ahead of the Brewers? I am going to puke.

"Meanwhile, Louisville loses on the road at unranked Kentucky, but not only do the Cardinals get to retain their place in the Top 25, but they are ranked AHEAD of Kentucky in both AP and Coaches' polls."

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.